Daily Answers

1-across – Spontaneous,unscripted : IMPROMPTU

8-across – Distant : ALOOF

9-across – Like skyscrapers and men’s ties,according to some : PHALLIC

10-across – Carte blanche : FREEREIN

11-across – British WW2 machine gun : BREN

13-across – Having them means you’ve got problems : ISSUES

14-across – Burglar alarm component that detects intrusion : SENSOR

16-across – Angler’s tempting offer : BAIT

17-across – Defence lawyer’s job : REBUTTAL

19-across – Criticise : RUNDOWN

20-across – Large group of people moving together : DROVE

21-across – Unknown-quantity person : DARKHORSE

1-down – Stool pigeon : INFORMER

2-down – Apple type : PIPPIN

3-down – Unharmed : OKAY

4-down – It leaves people sharply divided : POLARISATION

5-down – Cult Londoner : UNCONTROLLED

6-down – : HALFTIMBERED

7-down – Yes-men in on PR : MONEYSPINNER

12-down – Get into a muddle : BEFUDDLE

15-down – Not so fat : LEANER

18-down – : MOSH

1-across – Outstanding feature of the Taj Mahal : DOME

3-across – So-called : SUPPOSED

9-across – Self-denying : ASCETIC

10-across – Change : RESET

11-across – : BEANO

12-across – Fabric from a goat : MOHAIR

14-across – Like the Taj Mahal? : COMMEMORATIVE

17-across – Give rise to : ELICIT

19-across – Piper’s drum : TABOR

22-across – Lists weapon? : LANCE

23-across – Contributed : BROUGHT

24-across – : BANJAXED

25-across – Remain : STAY

1-down – Con : DRAWBACK

2-down – Type of coffee : MOCHA

4-down – Strained – tub of cornmeal : UNCOMFORTABLE

5-down – Shelter by the door : PORCH

6-down – Japanese dish of sliced raw fish : SASHIMI

7-down – Join them and get the picture : DOTS

8-down – Sidekick : STOOGE

13-down – Behind closed doors : SECRETLY

15-down – Skin-darkening pigment : MELANIN

16-down – Film director’s cue : ACTION

18-down – This tops an espresso : CREMA

20-down – Narrow-minded individual : BIGOT

21-down – Spill the beans : BLAB

1-across – Wine server : DECANTER

5-across – Fashion or food? : FAST

9-across – Overcharge : STING

10-across – Point to : PRESAGE

11-across – Nervous behaviour : SKITTISHNESS

13-across – Hit out : LETFLY

14-across – Clothes fastener : POPPER

17-across – Failing to take the long view : SHORTSIGHTED

20-across – Distinguished : EMINENT

21-across – Airship : BLIMP

22-across – Source of growth : SEED

23-across – Chance – to search for something valuable : PROSPECT

1-down – Destroy – instrument panel : DASH

2-down – The Lord’s game? : CRICKET

3-down – Opposite of day wear : NIGHTCLOTHES

4-down – French wit : ESPRIT

6-down – Rapidly : APACE

7-down – Rare suet : TREASURE

8-down – Luddites : TECHNOPHOBES

12-down – Small groups : CLUSTERS

15-down – Very : PRECISE

16-down – Whistler’s mother,for example : SITTER

18-down – Black or green fruit : OLIVE

19-down – Minor dispute : SPAT

1-across – In-your-face bit of slapstick? : CUSTARDPIE

7-across – Vanity project : EGOTRIP

8-across – Most believe it to be true : AXIOM

10-across – Dip in liquid : DUNK

11-across – More powerful : MIGHTIER

13-across – Bring to mind : RECALL

15-across – Start to like : WARMTO

17-across – Extremely unpleasant place : HELLHOLE

18-across – Darts player’s throwing position : OCHE

21-across – Precisely : PLUMB

22-across – Ham it up : OVERACT

23-across – Dr Ruth’s line of work : SEXTHERAPY

1-down – Sing softly : CROON

2-down – Nimble : SPRY

3-down – Family’s live-in helper : AUPAIR

4-down – Race that’s too close to call : DEADHEAT

5-down – Silvery-white metal used to make spark plugs : IRIDIUM

6-down – Helpers aid : LEADERSHIP

9-down – Puppet on a string : MARIONETTE

12-down – The letters used in a written language : ALPHABET

14-down – Growth in a Petri dish : CULTURE

16-down – Niche area? : ALCOVE

19-down – Golf or paving : CRAZY

20-down – <i>Girls</i><span> creator ___ Dunham</span> : LENA

1-across – Misrepresentation : PERVERSION

7-across – Microorganisms : BACTERIA

8-across – Structure of a crossword : GRID

9-across – Not any : NONE

10-across – : CHATTEL

12-across – Doubt – over retinas : RESERVATION

14-across – Crack in a rock : CREVICE

16-across – Not quite closed : AJAR

19-across – Party of men? : STAG

20-across – Fearless : UNAFRAID

21-across – Again and again : REPEATEDLY

1-down – Cocktail ingredient? : PRAWN

2-down – Listening or viewing figures : RATINGS

3-down – Currency launched in 1999 : EURO

4-down – Mine’s rubbish : SLAGHEAP

5-down – Word of obligation : OUGHT

6-down – Clay,homing or stool : PIGEON

11-down – Crack in a bone : FRACTURE

12-down – It doesn’t happen often : RARITY

13-down – Hurt : INJURED

15-down – Fuzzy : VAGUE

17-down – Wet : RAINY

18-down – Way of walking : GAIT